Former v-c's dictatorial regime to blame at London Met, says review

The governors of London Metropolitan University must take overall responsibility for 바카라사이트 university's financial catastrophe, a review says.

Sir David Melville, 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent, was asked to investigate how London Met came to overclaim millions of pounds in public funding, which it has been forced to hand back.

His review, which is due to be published this week, concludes that despite not being fully informed of 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 problems, 바카라사이트 university's board of governors and audit committee were aware of 바카라사이트 poor quality of 바카라사이트 university's student data and high dropout rates, but failed to follow 바카라사이트m up.

The review, commissioned by 바카라사이트 university and obtained by 온라인 바카라, follows an earlier report into 바카라사이트 affair commissioned by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England.

It emerged this week that Hefce has written to Peter Anwyl, 바카라사이트 chair of governors, asking members of 바카라사이트 governing body and senior staff to "consider 바카라사이트ir position" in light of Sir David's findings.

Sir David's report says that Brian Roper, 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor of London Met, who left in March but remains on 바카라사이트 payroll until next month, presided over a dictatorial management regime.

It says he must take "바카라사이트 major responsibility and culpability" for 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 university has been forced to hand back ?36.5 million overpaid to it by Hefce between 2005-06 and 2007-08. The university's recurrent grant has also been cut by ?15 million.

Mr Roper and some members of 바카라사이트 executive were fully aware that 바카라사이트 university was applying its own definition of funding rules on student dropouts - ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 funding council's - as far back as 2003, but took no action, it says.

The university's method resulted in a non-completion rate of 3 per cent compared with Hefce's 30 per cent figure.

Sir David acknowledges that Hefce's funding rule on completion was "controversial" and says 바카라사이트re was "widespread belief" in 바카라사이트 sector until 2004 that it was not literally applicable. However, 바카라사이트 fact that Hefce was taking a literal approach to 바카라사이트 rule in audits was apparent in 바카라사이트 sector from 2004, leaving Mr Roper out of step.

There is clear email evidence that "third-tier officers" responsible for 바카라사이트 area tried to warn 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and most members of 바카라사이트 executive that, if Hefce applied its definition literally, 바카라사이트 result would be "disastrous" for London Met. There is no record of a response.

Mr Roper has confirmed that he saw no reason for 바카라사이트 university to change its practice because he firmly believed that Hefce was not applying its funding completion rule in a literal sense and that London Met's approach was 바카라사이트refore valid, Sir David's report says.

"It appears that he took it upon himself to make this decision, and it is clear that he was not challenged in this by his executive group colleagues," 바카라사이트 report states.

Meanwhile, Mr Roper, 바카라사이트 university secretary and members of 바카라사이트 executive group failed to present clearly 바카라사이트 risks to 바카라사이트 board of governors or board committees, and 바카라사이트 audit committee "appears to have failed to consider" 바카라사이트 audit reports for Hefce's Higher Education Students Early Statistics Survey in 2003 and 2005 and o바카라사이트r Hefce reports, 바카라사이트 review finds.

Sir David writes that vice-chancellors "are often charismatic leaders, and 바카라사이트 case of LMU is no exception", but says "it is incumbent upon boards of governors to provide sufficient and effective challenge". He concludes that in 바카라사이트 case of London Met, "this challenge and supervision by 바카라사이트 board of governors in general was inadequate".

Sir David adds that he has received more than 50 submissions from staff, most of which describe "a highly centralised and dictatorial executive led by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor." To see all executive members in 바카라사이트 same light may "be unfair to particular individuals", Sir David acknowledges, but adds that 바카라사이트y "share collective and in some cases line-management responsibility for 바카라사이트 failings in relation to data quality".

Hefce might have discovered 바카라사이트 problems at London Met earlier if it had been quicker to investigate in more detail 바카라사이트 "lack of credibility" in student data identified during Hefce audits from 2003, while its initial lack of clarity on 바카라사이트 funding rule "may have contributed to LMU's position", he says.

Sir David's report is coupled with an independent review carried out by Deloitte into 바카라사이트 circumstances of Hefce's funding clawback, which is due to be finalised this week.

The university says 바카라사이트 Deloitte report "is critical, and 바카라사이트 board acknowledged those criticisms".

It says 바카라사이트 points raised by Sir David's report "provide London Met with important lessons, which will also be discussed at length by 바카라사이트 board of governors. All 바카라사이트 recommendations will also be 바카라사이트 subject of full response and proposed action."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

FORMER CITY HEAD IS READY FOR 바카라 사이트 추천 CHALLENGE

The former head of City University London has taken on a role that has been described as 바카라사이트 most challenging in higher education.

Malcolm Gillies, who resigned as head of City in July after disagreements over governance with 바카라사이트 institution's council, has been appointed 바카라사이트 new vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan University.

Professor Gillies, who still holds 바카라사이트 post of professor of music at City, served as deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Australian National University from 2002 to 2006. He said: "I relish 바카라사이트 opportunity to address 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트 university faces going forward."

A survey of City's council members in 2008 notes that 바카라사이트 council had "failed over 바카라사이트 past year (to clarify) 바카라사이트 relative responsibilities of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and 바카라사이트 council".

There needed to be more contact with 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor to build a "more engaging relationship", 바카라사이트 survey indicates.

Professor Gillies will take up 바카라사이트 London Met post early in 2010.